Reversible friction clutch



Nov. 2s, 1933. ,E M. PFAUSER 1,936,640

REVERSIBLE FRICTION CLIH'GH Filed Aug. 14 1931 @QW/M 517W. Ffa EET@ Patented Nov. 28, 1933 PATENT OFFICE 1,936,640 REVERSIBLE Fmc'rloN CLUTCH Edward M. Pfauser, Milwaukee, Wis., assigner to Blackhawk Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis. f

Application August 14, 1931. Y. Serial No. 556,986

'4 Claims.

This invention relates to reversible friction clutches applicable to various uses where a friction clutch is desired for obtaining intermittent operable engagement in one direction at a time,

`such as is obtained in a ratchetmechanism.

While the present invention pertains broadly to a clutch mechanism, the same is designed particularly for use in tools such as Wrenches, bits, screw drivers, and the like. In present types of tools of the foregoing charactenit is customary to utilize a shiftable ratchet dog to obtain reverse action of the tool. In other instances, such as in wrenches, the wrench carrying member is longitudinally shiftable with relation to the ma# nipulating handle, to provide for reverse action. Also, frictional gripping means has been substituted for ratchet mechanism, but no provision has heretofore been made for reversing the direction of frictional engagement between the tool and the manipulating handle.

It is therefore the primary object oi the present invention to provide a tool of the foregoing character embodying irictional actuating means, together with means for reversing the direction of friotional engagement of said actuating means.

Incidental to the foregoing, a more specific object resides in the provision of a handle and a tool receiving member having rictional means to provide intermittent operable engagement between the handle and tool member in one direction at a time, together with means for reversing the direction of operable engagement.

A still further object is to provide a manipulating handle and a tool receiving member having frictional clutching members to provide operable engagement between the two, 'together with means for shifting the frictional clutching members with relation to the tool receiving member, whereby the direction of operable engagement is reversed. v

With the above and other objects in view,

which will appear as the description proceeds,-

the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts ysubstantially as hereinafter described and more particularly dened by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come withinthe scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

(CIL 192-44) Figure 5 is a detailed view of the spacing wash- 65 er disposed between the wrench head and friction controlling means.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the numeral 1 designates a conventional wrench handle provided with an annular head 2 having a central transverse cylindrical bore 3 for reception of the sleeve 4, the latter being provided with a hanged head 5 having its peripheral edge knurled or roughened to provide for the manual manipulation of the same.

As best shown in Figure 2, the sleeve l is pro-1 vided with diametrically disposed milled slots 6 forA reception of the frictional rollers?. Disposed withinthe sleeve Li is the squared end 8 of a wrench socket receiving shank 9, which shank is Sill provided with a conventional spring-urged v plunger 10 to retain the socket thereon. Formed integral with theshank 9 and headl 8 is an annular ange 1l engaging one face or" the head 2 of the wrench, While the flange 5 of the sleeve 85 4 engages the opposite face. To retain the sleeve and shank in assembled position in the head 2 of the Wrench, the head 8 of theY shank is provided with a threaded lugl2 projecting throughl the flange 5 for reception of the retaining nut 13, 90 while disposed between the flange 5 and the head 8 is a spacing washer 14 provided 'with cutout portions 15 for reception of the spacedy portions oi' the sleeve 4.

'Ihe squared head 8 is provided with a pair oi 95 spaced, transverse bores 16 extending atright angles to each other, and parallel'to the faces of the head 8. Positioned within the bores are the plungers 17 provided with conical heads, and having disposed therebetween expansible springs 18 urging each pair of plungers toward projected position. As best shown in Figure 2, each plunger engages one of the frictional rollers 7 to retain the same in engagement with one side of the adjacent face of the squared head 8, and the inner bore 3 of the head 2.

Taking up the loperation of the Wrench, wit particular reference to Figure 2, it will be quite apparent that as the head 2 isrotated in a clockwise direction, the frictional rollers l will pro- 110 vide wedging frictional engagement between the inner bore of the head 2 and the adjacent face of the squared head 8, whereas when rotated in an anti-clockwise direction the head 2 will slip past the Irictional rollers, thus providing intermittent ratchet actuating of the shank 9. When it is desired to reverse the direction of frictional engagement, it is merely necessary to shift the sleeve 4 with relation to the squared head 8, through manipulation of the flanged head 5. Such shifting oi the sleeve will cause the frictional rollers to pass over the plungers 1'7 and engage the poposite side of the faces of the squared head, in which position of the rollers operable clutching engagement between the head 2 and the head 8 occurs upon rotation of the head 2 in an anticloclrwise direction.

While the spacing washer 14 is not essential to the operation of the invention, the same is provided to eliminate possible frictional engagement between the head 2 and flange 5 when the head its rotated on its return stroke, thus eliminating any possibility of undesired shifting of the sleeve 4 by the head 2, which, as heretofore explained, would effect reversal of the direction of engagement of the frictional means. Obviously the washer 14, which serves to space the ilange 5 from the head 2, will eliminate possible friction between the two, inasmuch as the Washer is secured to the end of the head 8 and engages the head 2 to retain the iiange 5 and head 2 in spaced relation.

From the foregoing explanation, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be apparent that an exceedingly simple, compact and eicient frictional actuating tool has been provided, in which the direction of actuating can be reversed through simple manipulation of the frictional controlling means, namely shifting oi the sleeve 4, thus eliminating longitudinal shifting of the tool receiving shank, which provides for a more rigid, simple construction and also eliminates the necessity ci removing the tool from the work to reverse the action oi the same.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in considerable detail, as applied to what is commonly termed a ratchet wrench, it is to be understood that the same is adaptable to anytype of tool, such as a bit, screw driver and the like, wherein it is desired to obtain a ratchet movement in either selected direction.

Furthermore, as previously set forth, it is contemplated that the invention may be applied to a wide range of devices and machines wherein a selective intermittent feeding action in opposite directions is desired, as for instance in a lathe feed, or in the operation of a screw Jack.

4ber 'having a polygonal head positioned within said sleeve and rotatably connected thereto, and resilient means for releasably retaining said sleeve and polygonal head in relative adjusted position.

2. A tool operating handle provided with a head having a cylindrical bore therein, a sleeve posivtioned within said bore and provided with spaced slots and a flange at one end, frictional elements positioned within said slots, a tool receiving member having a polygonal head positioned within said sleeve and rotatablyeonnected thereto, resilient means for releasably retaining said sleeve and polygonal head in relative adjusted position, and a washer carried by said polygonal head for spacing the iiange of said sleeve`from the head of said handle.

3. In a device of the class described, a barrel member having a continuous internal cylindrical clutch surface, a tool receiving member having a polygonal head, said polygonal head and the interior clutch surface providing a plurality of pockets which are narrower at the ends than at the center, a roller in each of said pockets, said rollers being adapted to be drawn into binding engagement in either end of the pockets, means for resiliently urging the rollers into either end or" the pockets, and a slotted sleeve member disposed between the barrel member and the head member for shifting said rollers from one end of the pockets to the other end of the pockets, said sleeve member being rotatably supported in said barrel member coaxially with said cylindrical clutch surface and having an end plate, and said head having a stud projecting through and guided 115 centrally in said plate.

ln a device oi the class described, a wrench arm having an integral head, said head having a bore therethrough, the walls of the bore providing an annular clutch surface and having a short 120 counterbcre at each endof the main bore, a polygonal shank member forming with the annular clutch surface a plurality of pockets which are narrower at the ends than at their centers, a clutch roller in each pocket, means for resiliently 125 urging each roller into either end of the corresponding pocket, a pair of end plates seated in said counterbore and retaining said shank member in said bore, and a slotted sleeve within the bore for shifting the rollers from one end o! 130 the pockets to the opposite end of the pockets.

EDWARD M. PFAUSER. 

